Everyone is entitled to their musical tastes and opinions, but the endless Godchaux bashing is so personal and tiresome. It's unbecoming of the GD vibe.
I think most here would agree that Jerry was a musical genius? How is it then that he missed the boat on seeing how talentless Donna was? He did not have to take her to the JGB, but did. Give the JGB cd "Don't Let Go" from a month or so prior to these rehearsals a listen; the tightest vocals, guitar and harmonies you'll ever hear from Jerry. If you don't listen then don't pontificate.
I assume most know that she sang in the studio on numerous "famous" songs: Elvis' "Suspicious Minds", Percy Sledge's "When A man Loves a Woman", she sang w Boz Scaggs and New Riders too.
There are certainly times when Donna was cringe-worthy, but so were there times when Bob was (cackling at the end Sugar Mags). There are so many GD songs where she adds to the sound, usually very subtly (BEW comes to mind).
For my money, GD was always better served by the saloon sound of Keith's piano than it was by the circus carousel sound of Brent. Give me 72-73 and 76-77 over anything.
Be fair, be kind.

Some interesting takes on classics. I believe these are the GD's lone versions of Playin' and Wharf Rat in the studio, no?

Attics does have an odd reggae shuffle to it, which doesn't nullify the piece in any real way, but certainly they are packing some emotional distance from the pure, tangible, psychedelic philosophy of the days of old.

The winners here are that 12-min Playin' and teh Wharf Rat. The sound is pretty bright and clear, the boys sounding very '76. If you like '76 you're in for a treat.

There is some good rehearsal music here. Not essential, and not as interesting as a lot of the 1975 practices. But it has its moments.

The PITB in particular has a cool jam. As "light into ashes" mentions, the return to the Playin' theme is unique and the jam is worthy of re-listening.

I like the Attics and first take of Candyman a lot. The various Eyes takes have some good moments too.

To All The Donna Bashers: Might You Have Even Seen The Band In That Era Besides You Tube. Does It Make You Feel Better To Post Your Ignorant And Redundant Opinions On A Site Deadicated To Celebrating The Music Of A Band Of Which She Was An Important Member. I Know I Feel Better Bashing You. Rave On. Forever Grateful Donna & Keith And All Band Members, Crew And Extended Family.

Between Donna's off-key warbling and Keith's attempts to turn it into a calypso number it's no surprise the boys were put off playing Attics in public for seventeen years. It suffered a Godchaux infection, one that took them being ten years removed from the cure before playing it again. When I think of how those two held them back from greatness during their most formative years it makes me sick. While Keith often showed great talent, a shame his wife was part of the package, virtually nullifying it.

-q

Sweet redemption for starry-eyed hippies running around in 1976 saying, "They played Attics of my Life in rehearsals!"
For me beyond the obvious nod to the entire band I like Donna's contribution here. Any studio stuff like this I usually find to be a great listen.

These are some rehearsals from May 28-30, 1976, when the Dead were getting songs ready for their new tour.
Since these are practice versions, they're sometimes rather tentative and laid-back compared to the live shows of '76 - the Supplication jams are particularly mild-mannered. Attics of My Life, of course, the Dead decided not to do live, so this is almost the only version with Donna & Keith (there were a couple back in '72). Eyes starts out (track 9) as a jam, with the band apparently re-familiarizing themselves with the song. In tracks 10-12 they remind themselves how Playin' in the Band used to go (these are not "jams" as labeled, though there is some noodling), and track 13 has a complete Playin'. Garcia especially steps out here, and the jam is engaging with a slick return to the song. Then it's back to a strong version of Eyes (a complete take in track 14, and another jam in track 15). The complete take of Wharf Rat (track 20) is quite nice - Garcia uses a strange & different tone in the ending solo. There is also a strong Wheel (track 22), and Candyman makes a jaunty return.
(Note: This GEMS file mostly duplicates the other Vernon file of this session, but each file is missing material - the Vernon file is missing some songs from 5/28, but the GEMS file is missing the early Playin' takes from 5/29.)
There are many more rehearsals from April/May '76 that are not on the Archive, which include more Attics, slow versions of Might As Well, and takes of Crazy Fingers, Saint Stephen, Let It Grow, the "Peanut Butter Song", Estimated Prophet, and Born Cross-Eyed. Hopefully some of these might be added someday.

very cool attics
Why didn't they play this in concert? I feel american beauty (and workingman's dead) were poorly covered in concert, sure Sugar Mag, Truckin, casey jones and ujb became default encore and show closer material, but some of the finer tunes, such as till the morning comes, attics, speedway, operator, deserved more play, especially in the 71-74 era. Look for attics at 9-27-72 and 10-28-72, along with the 2/22/74 sound check.

Im not sure I want to hear donna in the mix on this, but it does sound pretty good. this sounds more like JGB than dead, with keith's tempo change very upfront. Obviously the changes in sound that the JGB with K+D set up infected 76 dead, devil, tleo to name a few, but I wonder why this shift happened then, the 75 studio stuff still sounds pretty good with the two drummers working well, but by 76 its really in your face and not too measured. I think newer material such as help-slip-frank works great with 2 drums but the older stuff suffered.

FYI. Club Front was/is the Grateful Dead's own studio (I know Phil & Bob still use it & I would assume so do the others). Located in San Rafael, CA. Always loved this recording. Had it for years on cassette, but wore it out!! So glad to see it here even if it is just available to stream.
;-). It's always cool to hear the Dead screwin' aound in the studio. Completely free to do/say whatever. 5 stars wharts & all.

Hi, folks - Many web sites list this venue as 'Le Club Front Studios' but I have no idea where those studios were/are. Good stuff here, though. Thanks for uploading.

The Attics (track 5) is outstanding. I had heard this on the Greatful Dead Hour on NPR some years ago and had always been trying to find it.

Thanks for whoever finally put this on the list!